Users who wish to change their telephone provider by porting their number must check in advance whether the minimum contractual period has expired, as early termination of the contract may result in the payment of penalties, warns the National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM).
According to the institution, porting does not cancel the commitments assumed under the existing contract, and the period between submitting the application and carrying out the porting cannot exceed 25 days.
"Many telephone service users are tempted to change their current provider by porting their telephone number. However, porting does not cancel the commitments assumed under the contract concluded with the provider they are abandoning, such as the payment of penalties for early termination of the contract," ANCOM specifies.
According to the cited source, telephone providers usually establish a minimum contractual period to ensure cost recovery in the case of commercial offers, which include certain additional benefits for users.
"These benefits do not only refer to free or reduced-price equipment, but also to promotional tariff plans, free installation of services, etc. According to the law, the minimum contractual period cannot exceed 24 months. Termination of the contract, at the subscriber's initiative, prior to the expiration of this period, usually involves the payment of penalties. By porting a telephone number, the existing contract for that number implicitly terminates," the press release reads.
Before submitting the porting request, users must check the current contract to see if the minimum contractual period has expired, claim ANCOM representatives.
"Users can submit the porting request after the minimum contractual period has expired or can request from the accepting provider the date on which they wish the porting to be carried out. Attention! The period from submitting the porting request to the moment of carrying out the porting cannot exceed 25 days," the document also states.
According to the institution, if users wish to port a phone number before the minimum contractual period expires, it is recommended that they find out from the current provider under what conditions the current contract will be terminated.
"Porting does not cancel any penalties for early termination of the contract, but it is possible for the provider to waive them, following direct negotiation with the users. In the event of any problems encountered during the porting process, users must first contact the providers in the network to which they intended to port their numbers (accepting providers). In the absence of a solution by the providers, users can contact ANCOM, using the dedicated form," ANCOM notes.
Issues related to the value or method of calculating penalties, established by suppliers for the early termination of contracts, can be addressed to the National Authority for Consumer Protection and/or the competent courts, the press release also states.
The National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) is the institution that promotes the interests of users of electronic communications services, postal services and digital services in the context of the transition to the Gigabit society, by making optimal use of the mix of administration and regulatory tools available to the Authority.
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